The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-07-28

pudently gazing into his face, turned
to his companions and mysteriously
whispered:
There's blood on this mans face.
He has got a quantity OF money. Where
did he come fromp Who is hePn
The crowd seemed excited, and the |
old fellow again approached Suarez,
and asked him where he had got the |
money then in his possession, and sar-
castically asked if such money grew on |
bushes. Being answered in careless
manner he put his finger cunningly to
his nose. and closely scrutinizing
Suarez, remarked aloud that the latter
had blood on his face, and that his ap-
pearance was somewhat suspicious.
At this juncture the man who had
found Suarez in the ditch put in an ap-
pearance and proceeded to relate in the
most picturesque style, how he found a
strange man with his skull fractured
and his pockets turned inside out, lying
in the ditch, quite dead. He stated he
went for assistance to the village, and
on inquiring at the inn there he had
discovered that man dressed answer
ing the description of Suarez had been
there and had displayed quantity of
money. Having obtained assistance,
he returned to the spot where he left
the murdered stranger, but, instead of
finding him, he discovered. that during
his absence, the body had been stripped
and removed, and, as he believed.
buried, and the clothes were lying
scattered about the ditch.
Suarez listened to all with an amused
smile, and when the man had finished
mis- story Suarez observed that the
group of men were casting inquisitive
looks at him, and he heard the words
dollars and s'blood" whispered
among the men. At length the man
who first approached Suarez left his
companions, and going out of the inn
returned shortly after with constable,
and without further ceremony handed
Suarez over in charge of the official,
who Immediately proceeded to search
his prisoner. When the prisoners purse
containing the money was produced
the man who found the murdered
stranger set up shout, and fixing his
eyes on the blood on the prisoner $
face, said he was sure he was the muir
derer and robber, and at the proper
time would tell all about it. No as
scrtion or explanation OF Suarez could
serve him one jot, and he was finally
conveyed to the Jail and locked up.
The next day Suarez was conducted
after much peril into the presence Of
the village magistrate. His accuael
was placed before him, and in blunt
straightforward manner told his story
how he was passing along the road
how he found the stranger with 9
fractured skull lying dead, and covered
with blood and brains; how he went fol
, assistance, and on his return found thu
clothes scattered about and the body
removed. Suarez's own money ane
his own blood on his face was given ir
evidence against him; the story wa
: complete in all its details, and th'
, investigation ended in the prisoner be
: ing committed to the county jail Il
/, await trial for the willful murder OF |
person unknown. and the constable
was ordered to make diligent searcl
for the body.
Shortly after his commitment, as
all circumstances conspired agains
: him, the people, after an active search
: succeeded in discovering the body OF
strange person, almost in q state Q
nudity, in canal, which ran alonI
the back of the town, upon which tn
= coroner sat in due form; and thus, t
I the satisfaction of his prosecutors.
> chain of evidence was made out suffi
!. GENTLY strong to put Suarez on trial.
! Let those good people, who preac
!, so strongly in favor of the comfortabl
!, feelings arising from conscious In
: nocence. and build so much on inwar
fortitude, and who join in the declal
!, alton of the poet that "what is,
= right Jet them place themselves fo
: moment in Suarez's position-lt
them feel the horrors of man charge
: with his own murder. and unable
: convince the judges that he is actuall
, in existence. How obtuse are the il
tellects of many worthy people, VIII
in the eager pursuit of truth, hug
:. their hearts any antic that may chane
to assume the garb Of that rarely di
8 covered parsonage!
q Already Suarez fancied in his gloom
reflections that he heard the jury d
r clare him guilty; and in his dreams
: saw the fatal black cap placed over h
/ head. Then he fancied he heard b
d last dying speech and confession
chanted about the streets, and poste
. on cottage walls, and children taugl
:. from reading them the necessity OF VI
: tue. Then horrors of an ignominio'
y ldeath-the halter-the gallows--tl
!. shouts of ..monster," murderer, ett
ts all echoing around him in his imagin
to ton.
= At length the accused man W
- foff